Dinner meeting/ Club Assembly

President Richard Vidler, Janine Vidler, District Governor Malcolm Hallewell and Carol Hallewell

Last week the Club held its annual planning meeting known as the Club Assembly.  The meeting, held in the Boverton Castle Hotel, was hosted by club President Rtn. Richard Vidler who welcomed Assistant Governor, Malcolm Hallewell to the proceedings.  The purpose of the meeting was to review the work of the Rotary Club and to announce plans for the forthcoming Rotary year.

 Gareth Rees spoke about Rotary Foundation - the world-wide Rotary charity.  Amongst those helped this year have been Polio Plus the ambitious scheme  begun some thirty years ago to rid the world of the dreadful disease, poliomyelitis. Most countries are now free of the disease but there is still work to be done.  ShelterBox continues to help communities around the world devastated by climate change and freak storms and replacement fishing boats have been supplied to  a community in Indonesia to help support their way of life.  Locally the railway station in Llantwit Major continues to be regularly inspected by Rotary and any deficiencies reported to the rail operating company. The few problems were always quickly dealt with.

 John Power spoke about Community Service.  The club continues to  support Llantwit Major School in its Dragons Den  program where Rotarians interview teams of would-be entrepreneurs present their plans.  However, many previously successful initiatives such as the Interact Club and applications for the outward bound course, RYLA, have been temporarily suspended because of Covid.  It was hoped that it may soon also  be possible to restart the assistance with transport to the partially sighted club in Cowbridge. 

 Geoff Jones discussed Rotary membership.  He welcomed recent new members and thanked Gareth Rees and President Richard for hosting over a hundred video meetings during the Covid crisis.  This had enabled the club to function including regular contributions to the Llantwit Major food bank.  Now we are beginning to meet again in local venues including Illtud 216.   He looked forward to welcoming more new members.

 District Governor Malcolm, who was attending for District with his Rotarian wife, Carol, brought greetings from the Rotary Club of Cowbridge and congratulated the Llantwit Major Club for all it is doing in the community.  His great wish was for the service clubs in the community to work even more closely for the communities of which they are a part.